On the first day of Ganeshotsav, around ₹48,30,000 was received as donation at Mumbai’s famous Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Manda.

Lalbaugcha Raja, located in Lower Parel, is expected to attract over 10 million devotees this season.

This year, Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to seek blessings from Lalbaugcha Raja on September 9. Along with him, a host of other notable personalities will line up to seek the blessing of Lord Ganesha.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Devotees throng and offer prayers at Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/VsHhdKTCTh

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2024

The 10-day Ganesh festival began on September 7, with idols of the deity being installed in homes and at public pandals across the state.

In Mumbai, around 15,000 police personnel have been deployed for security during the festival. As many as 32 Deputy Commissioners of Police, 45 Assistant Commissioners, 2,435 officials, 12,420 constables, home guards and personnel of the State Reserve Police Force, Rapid Action Force and Riot Control Unit are on the streets, PTI reported.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has urged people to celebrate the festival in an eco-friendly way. Heritage and culture of Maharashtra are on display during this festival, he said, and appealed to people to preserve its legacy.

The Brihanmumbau Municipal Corporation (BMC) has asked people to be on guard against stingray and jellyfish bites during Ganesh festival idol immersions. Hundreds of big idols are immersed in the Arabian sea.